History

ZeniMax Media was founded in 1999 by Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver and Robert A. Altman. Weaver's vision was to use Bethesda Softworks as a hybrid-media company which would create cross-media properties for a diverse range of different platforms. Weaver brought Altman on board as CEO, contributing his stock in Bethesda Softworks so that the new shell company (ZeniMax Media) would be able to obtain funding. Weaver moved to a non-operational role in 2002.

In 2004, ZeniMax Media acquired the Fallout franchise from Interplay Entertainment.[2]
Bethesda's Todd Howard said in January 2007 that "We started work on Fallout 3 in late 2004 with a few people. We only had about 10 people on it until Oblivion wrapped, but most of our staff is on it now."[3]Fallout 3 was released in October 2008.

On June 24, 2009, it was announced that ZeniMax Media had purchased independent developer id Software.[4]

In September 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired rights to the Prey video game franchise.[5]

In December 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired publishing rights to the id Software game Rage. The game was to be published by Electronic Arts.[6]